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Vineyard guide · Llanblethian
Visiting Glyndwr Vineyard
Glyndwr, outside Cowbridge, was planted in 1979 and calls itself the oldest established vineyard in Wales. The only way to visit is its Saturday tour, a long, easy lunch with sparkling wine, a walk in the vines and the llamas, and it is very good value.
Glyndwr at a glance
| Founded | 1979 |
|---|---|
| Known for | The oldest established vineyard in Wales, and lunch tours with llamas |
| Awards | Brut first prize and red double gold at the South West Vineyards Association competition |
| Grapes | Madeleine Angevine, Reichensteiner, Seyval Blanc, Triomphe d’Alsace and Rondo |
| Open | Visits by booked tour only |
| Booking | Tours booked and paid online; changes need more than a week’s notice |
| Tours from | £48.50 |
| Food | Two-course lunch included on the tour |
| Dogs | Not allowed at the vineyard, because of the sheep, chickens and llamas |
| Stay | Self-catering rooms and a log cabin on the estate, two-night minimum |
| By train | No station nearby; the X2 bus from Cardiff or Bridgend stops about 5 minutes’ walk away |
Checked on the vineyard’s own website in November 2026.
About Glyndwr
The family who still own Glyndwr planted it in 1979, among the first in the revival of winemaking in Wales, and it is now the oldest family wine estate in the country. Two generations work on it together, and the vineyard runs to about seven acres.
It is farmed with an eye on wildlife. Chickens, ducks and wild pheasants wander the rows, the hedges are left to grow wild for the birds, and the vines are treated with organic material. The gardens beside the vineyard have opened for the National Garden Scheme, and the orchards of old British apple trees go into Glyndwr’s own cider and Welsh brandy. Wines are stored and aged in the cellar under the farmhouse.
Over more than 40 years the owners have built up a network of stockists across Wales, from Waitrose and the Celtic Manor Resort to family delis from St Davids to Cardiff. The vineyard says its sparkling Brut took first prize at the South West Vineyards Association competition, and its red won a double gold there, the first time that award had been given.
The wines
Our pick is the Vintage Sparkling White 2021 at £26, the style that has done best for Glyndwr in competition and the wine that opens the tour. The Dry White 2025 (£16) blends Madeleine Angevine, Reichensteiner and Seyval Blanc. The Dry Rosé 2023 (£18) is Triomphe d’Alsace with Seyval Blanc, and the Red 2023 (£20) is made from Rondo. There is also a medium rosé, a Vintage Sparkling Rosé 2023 at £26, and the Welsh Brandy at £20. All the wines are vegan friendly, and there are tour-day discounts on six or more bottles. Where to buy them.
Tours and tastings at Glyndwr
Glyndwr is a tour-only visit, with one start time and most dates on Saturdays, so book ahead, especially for summer and the run-up to Christmas. Finding it is the awkward part. The postcode sends you to the other end of the village, so use the map on the contact page or head for the Cross Inn: from its car park you can see a red post box, and the vineyard’s gravel drive is directly opposite. Wellies are a good idea in wet weather. You are welcome to stay for another drink after the tour, as the vineyard usually closes at 3pm, and you can leave the car overnight if you’d rather not drive. Dogs are not allowed, as the llamas are easily spooked. If you can’t come, more than a week’s notice gets you another date; with less you can only pass the booking to someone else. Tell the vineyard about allergies or vegetarian diets when you book.
| Experience | Price | Length | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vineyard Tour It starts with a glass of Welsh vintage sparkling wine, in the candle-lit barn in winter or on the terrace in warmer months, then a personally guided tour of the vineyard and a chance to meet the llamas. Lunch is two courses of local food, typically homemade quiche, hot local sausages, coronation chicken, Welsh cheeses and salad, then a dessert, with two more Glyndwr wines. Arrive at 12.20pm. It goes ahead in the rain; if it is wet at 1pm the walk moves to after lunch. | From £48.50 per person | About 2 hours, 12.30pm to 2.30pm | Most Saturdays, with the odd weekday and Sunday, March to December |
Book these on the Glyndwr website.
Buy Glyndwr wines
None of our wine partners has these wines in stock this week. The vineyard sells them in its own shop, or see our pick of English wines to buy online.
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Getting there
The vineyard is in Llanblethian, just south of Cowbridge, about 20 minutes’ drive from Cardiff and Cardiff Airport. There is no railway in Cowbridge. The X2 bus runs from Cardiff in the east and Porthcawl and Bridgend in the west, and the nearest stop, Clare Garden Village, is about five minutes’ walk away.
Make a day of it
The Cross Inn, a dog-friendly village pub with pop-up menus, is at the end of the drive. Cowbridge, a market town with cafés, restaurants and shops, is three minutes away by car, and the vineyard says the coast is about ten minutes. Llanerch Vineyard at Hensol, which runs tastings all year, and St Hilary Vineyard near Cowbridge are close by.
See every vineyard you can visit in our Wales directory. Our other Wales vineyard guides: White Castle, Llanerch.
Questions people ask
Can I just turn up at Glyndwr Vineyard?
No. Visits are by booked tour only, and the tour must be booked before you go.
How long are Glyndwr tour vouchers valid?
Twelve months, but you only need to book a date before the expiry date, so in practice they last up to 24 months. Contact the vineyard before expiry if you need longer.
Can you stay at Glyndwr?
Yes. There are self-catering rooms with kitchens and a log cabin, with a two-night minimum, an honesty bar of Glyndwr wine, beer, cider and brandy, and free parking. Booking direct is at least 5% cheaper than other sites.